Permanent NPCs

Permanent NPCs are those you can find on your island every single day, and at times do not have a set visiting or operating hour, with the exception of the merchants.

Tom Nook

Helps you navigate the tutorial phase of the game, and is the point of contact for construction-related queries.
If you aren’t sure what to do, talk to him and choose “What should I do?” If he doesn’t have anything for you today, he may have something for you tomorrow!
He is also the NPC who is in charge of critical decisions. Access this menu by pressing the button while on the game title screen.

Timmy and Tommy (The “Nooklings”)

Until Nook’s Cranny is unlocked, you can buy and sell items from Timmy in the Resident Services tent.
Timmy and Tommy run Nook’s Cranny once it’s built, where you can purchase decor, plants, and tools.

Blathers

Unlocked when you donate 5 critters to Tom Nook during the tutorial.
Once the museum is built, you’ll be able to donate bugs, fish, sea creatures, and art that Blathers will tell you about as well as display for players to look at.

Isabelle

Unlocked when you upgrade Resident Services into a building.
Isabelle handles daily announcements and is the point of contact for resident concerns, island evaluations, and personalizing your island’s flag and tune.
You can talk to Isabelle to reset villagers’ clothing, catchphrases through the ‘Discuss a Resident’ option.

The way they talk: Resets custom catchphrases, but NOT nicknames or greetings.
The way they dress: Removes from their wardrobe whatever clothing items and/or custom designs the villager is currently wearing.
DLC ONLY The way their house looks: Reverts a villager’s home interior to their normal interior.
- NOTE: This feature only becomes available once the full storyline of HHP has been completed. Please see our HHP unlocks page for details.

Pascal

Appears in the sea when the player finds a scallop, given he hasn’t already been given a scallop for the day.
Will give Mermaid DIYs, clothing, or a pearl in exchange for the scallop you catch.
Limited to one exchange with Pascal per day.
See the guide here for more info on Pascal.
See here for the list of Mermaid Clothing and here for the Mermaid Furniture set.

Mabel

Visits your island to sell clothes once Nook’s Cranny has been opened.
Opens up a store called The Able Sisters with Sable, where clothing can be purchased.

Sable

Appears in the back of The Able Sisters shop once opened.
Talking to her for 10 days will allow the player to befriend her, at which point Sable will start gifting the player customization patterns that they can use when customizing certain furniture items.

Harvey (Harv)

Will wander around your island upon first encounter.
Speaking with him will prompt him to invite you to his own island, which allows you to take photos of your villagers and decorated sets.
Speak to Orville in the airport to fly to Harv’s island.
Harv’s island is the location for the Wedding event.
Once the player has spoken to Harv, has completed Project K, and has completed Harv’s Photopia tutorial, they gain access to the shop plaza where visiting NPCs have permanent set-ups. The inventory of their shops rotates weekly, on Mondays.

Orville and Wilbur

Run the airport.
Orville helps open gates for visitors, prepares your flights to other islands, and sends mail to your friends and neighbors.
Wilbur is the pilot and provides the player with flimsy tools on mystery tours (200 per tool).

Luna

First encounter when the player dreams for the first time.
Assists the player in uploading a dream or visiting other dream islands.

Kapp’n

First encounter on the docks.
Takes player to mysterious Kapp’n islands with rare resources.

Brewster

First encounter on a Kapp’n island after accepting Blathers’ request to find him.
Brews coffee for the player once settled down in The Roost in the Museum.